Jacqueline S. Mattis is Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her research focuses on the positive psychological development of African American and African diasporic communities living in urban contexts. In particular, she explores the link between religiosity/spirituality and such positive outcomes as empathy, compassion, altruism, forgiveness, volunteerism, positive community involvement, and positive parenting.

She is the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Psychologist Award from the National Association of Black Psychologists; a recipient of NYU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Award for commitment to mentorship, service, and social justice; and recipient of the 2001 Templeton Foundation’s Positive Psychology Young Scholars award. She has served as Associate Editor of the Psychology of Women Quarterly and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Spirituality and Psychology.